Spelling mail-indicator.



G. H. LUTHER.

SPELLING MAIL INDICATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

1,068,253. Patented July 22,1913.

ATTORNEYS res.

CLARENCE I-I. LUTHER, OlF FAYETTE'VTLLE, ARKANSAS.

SPELLING MAIL-INDICA'IOR.

1t,tl68,253..

To all whom 2'25 may concern.

Be it known that T, CLARENCE H. LUTHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fayetteville, in the county of l Vashing ton and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spelling liTail-Tndicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in spelling mail indicators, and has for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive device of the character specified, for indicating the placing of mail in mail boxes, particularly on rural routes, wherein an incomplete indication is provided, adapted to be completed by the carrier or postman, to indicate the placing of the mail.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the improved indicator, with the parts in one position; and, Fig. 2 is a diagramn'iatic view of the indicator and its connections, with the parts of the indicator in another position.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a plate 1 of suitable material, having openings for receiving screws 2, to permit the plate to be attached to a suitable support, in a suitable location, as for instance in the home.

A frame comprising a base 3, sides l, and an integral arched top 5 is secured to the front of the plate, and a sheet 6 of glass or like transparent material is held by the frame. A magnet 7 is arranged on the sup port near one end of the frame, and is held to the support by staples 8 or other suitable attachments. The winding of the magnetis interposed in a normally open circuit, comprising leads 9 and 10, which pass through openings in the end of the frame or through the plate, to the mail box 11, which may be supported in the usual manner by a post 12, at the roadside or any other place or manner of attachment, or support, whether it be in the country, towns or cities.

A push button 13 or contact, of any desired construction is arranged in the mail box, and the leads 9 and 10 are connected to the terminals of the button. A signal 14, in the present instance an electric bell, is interposed in the lead 9, at a suitable point, and a batter in the present instance consisting of three dry cells 15 is interposed in lead 10.

The characters 16 forming a part of the word mail are arranged on the support,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1912.

Patented July $2, 1913. Serial No. 705,558.

within the frame, and below the magnet, and the same characters, but of smaller size are arranged above the magnet, as indi cated at 17. The letter T of each group is omitted, a blank space being left, of suitable size to receive the said characters. The characters I in both groups are formed on a bar or plate 18, which is pivoted intermediate its ends, as shown at 19 to the support. The character I belonging to the first named group is painted or otherwise placed on one end of the bar, as shown at 20, and the character belonging to the last named group is similarly placed on the other end as shown at 21. The bar is pivoted in such position, and the groups 16 and 17 are so arranged with respect to the bar, that when the bar is swung into vertical position, Fig. 9., the characters at the ends of the bar will cover the blank space in each group, the characters on the bar being in proper relative position in the group. (hie end of the bar, that end bearing the character 21 is extended outside of the casing formed by the frame 3-%-5 and the cover 6, the said end moving in a slot 22 in the frame, and having a finger piece 23 outside of the casing.

A plate 24, provided with a longitudinal slot 25, is secured to the support below the pivotal connection of the bar, by means of perforated lateral lugs 26 on the plate, and screws 27 passing through the lugs and engaging the support. The plate is inclined, and the bar pas es through the slot. The plate is so arranged that the bar may swing from horizontal to vertical position, the ends of the slot limiting the swinging movement of the bar to such positions. The bar is of greater width at the end adjacent to the magnet, and of greater weight, so that the bar will normally stand in vertical position.

A latch is provided adjacent to the magnet for holding the bar in horizontal posi tion. The latch consists of a plate 28, pivoted at 2%) to the support interi'nediate the ends of the plate, and the upper end of the plate has an arc-shaped slot 30, the are having the pivot screw 2.) as its center.

A pair of vertically spaced lugs 31 are provided at the lower end of the plate, and at the edge adjacent to the bar, for engaging opposite sides of the end of the bar, to hold the bar horizontal. The upper lug serving the purpose, when struck by the bar or plate (in passing from a vertical to a horizontal position) of carrying the lower lug back toward and underneath the plate or bar, thus engaging the same in a horizontal position. The plate has also a lug 32 at its lower end, and at the side adjacent to the magnet, the lug being the armature of the magnet.

The plate will normally stand with the lugs 31 engaging with the bar end, but when the magnet is energized, the lower end of the plate will be pulled toward the magnet, to release lugs 31 from the bar. The plate 2a, acts as a guide for the bar, and also as a limiting device.

In operation, w ien no mail is in the box, the parts stand in the position of Fig. 1, and the groups 16 and 17 of letters are incomplete. When mail is placed in the box, the carrier presses the button 13, and closes the circuit of the magnet energizing the same, and causing the latch to swing and release the bar. As soon as the bar is released, the heavy end swings downward, and the bar stands in the position of Fig. 2, adding the lacking char cters to each group, and also uncovering and exposing to view the characters which appear on the support, on either side of the bar pivot 19, and indicating that there is mail in the box. The bell also rings, so that there is an audible signal as well as a visible one.

The device may be reset, by swinging the bar into horizontal position. This may be done by the finger piece 23 or otherwise. As soon as the bar has been returned to horizontal posit-ion, the latch engages with the end thereof, and the device is again ready for operation.

I claim 1. A device of the character specified, comprising a supporting case having a transparent front, said case having on the front face of its rear wall a plurality of groups of characters, the characters of each group forming a part of a word, a bar pivoted intermediate its ends between the groups, each end of the bar having the missing character of one group, the end of the bar having the character of the lower group being of greater weight to cause the bar to stand normally in vertical position, said groups oeing so arranged that when the bar is vertical the characters on the bar will be in proper relative position, the side wall of the case being slotted and the one end of the bar extending through the slot and having a finger piece for swinging the bar, a guide engaging the bar for limiting the movement of the bar to horizontal and vertical position, a latch for holding the bar horizontal, said latch being normally in engaging position, a magnet adjacent to the latch, said latch having an armature for cooperating with the core of the magnet to swing the latch when the magnet is energized, a normally open electrical circuit in which the magnet is interposed, and means for closing the circuit.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a supporting case having a transparent front, said case having on the front face of its rear wall a plurality of groups of characters, the characters of each group forming a part of a word, a bar pivoted intermediate its ends between the groups, each end of the bar having the missing character of one group, the end of the bar having the character of the lower group being of greater weight to cause the bar to stand normally in vertical position, said groups being so arranged that when the bar is vertical the characters on the bar will be in proper relative position, a latch normally holding the bar horizontal, a magnet adjacent to the latch for swinging said latch out of engaging position when the magnet is energized, means for energizing the magnet, and means for returning the bar to horizontal position.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a support, said support having a plurality of groups of characters, the characters of each group forming a part of a word, a bar pivoted intermediate its ends between the groups, each end of the bar having the missing character of one group, the end of the bar having the character of the lower group being of greater weight to cause the bar to stand normally in vertical posi tion, said groups being so arranged that when the bar is vertical the characters on the bar will be in proper relative position, a releasable latch holding the bar horizontal, a magnet for releasing the latch, a normally open circuit for the magnet, and means for closing the circuit.

a. A device of the character specified, comprising a support having a group of characters forming a part of a word, a bar pivoted to the support above the missing character of the group, said bar having the missing character on its front face and depending in the blank space in the group when depending from its connection. a latch for holding the bar out of position in the group, and means operable from a distance for moving the latch to release the bar.

. CLARENCE H. LUTHER Witnesses G. O. DINCENKELLER, I. H. hioILroN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

